County Commissioner JoAnn Birrell and the entire board of commissioners should be applauded for the new policy giving an edge to Cobb County businesses during the process of bidding for work to be paid for by taxpayer funds. After all, part of what these companies will earn for their services comes from tax dollars they paid.

We have long needed such a policy. Cobb County is home to a host of companies and professionals, who are as competent as any in the state. We expend countless dollars and energy in the drive to attract businesses to Cobb County, but once we get them here, we do little to retain them.

I have numerous friends who operate various types of construction companies as well as architectural and engineering firms and their biggest complaint is that they cannot get contracts fromCobbCounty. It has always galled me a bit to read that a contract has been awarded to company in Douglasville, Atlanta, Decatur or some other place not in Cobb County.

What remains now is for the CCSD and the School Board to adopt the same policy. More than one professional, when bidding on Cobb County school work, has told me that Doug Shepard, the Chief Administrative Officer of SPLOST, makes no secret of the fact that he prefers working with the “big companies in Atlanta”. Fine, he is free to do that, when he is spending HIS money, but, when he is spending OUR money, he needs to look first at the people closest to home.

In many cases, the people who work for these companies also call CobbCounty their home, and they pay taxes here. Awarding work to them is a win-win situation.

It does not take any more intelligence than that possessed by a Moon Pie to realize we are all better off when we keep our own folks employed and busy. Let’s get with the program here, CCSD.

If there is a subjective point system that is a worthy story and is worth looking into by the MDJ. You never mentioned it in your article. Having the press shine a bright light on the government helps keep them in check. If the system for bidding out contracts is not done on a lowest bid basis I would think if the MDJ investigated that issue it would be a news worthy endeavor. What other criteria would the CCSB have and is it consistent with other divisions with the Cobb goverment? Some points to ponder.

eCobb Dad of 3

|

December 22, 2011

Pete, I thought we live in a free market society? If companies outside of Cobb offer comparable services and products at a better cost why shouldn't the CCSB use them? I agree it would be better to keep the tax dollars here in Cobb but if the businesses in Cobb cannot compete with "big companies in Atlanta" then the theory of natural business selection should apply. I would have thought you would have understood this free market principle. Instead you're now sounding like a Democrat demagogue. We have enough of them around now don't we?

Pete Borden

|

December 22, 2011

to eCobb Dad of 3, Thanks for your response. The problem is that the lowest bidder does not always get the job. There is a point system they use to determine who gets the job. The one who scores the highest number of points wins the job. Some of the things points are awarded for are subjective, which leaves the process open to manipulation. By using the fact that they are a Cobb County firm, as one of the factors used on the point assigmnment, it will, hopefully, make it more difficult for people to manipulate the system to favor their favorites. I am all for free market bidding and awarding of contracts. We do not have it now. If favoritism is going to be a factor, I want Cobb County firms to be the favorites.

*We welcome your comments on the stories and issues of the day and seek to provide a forum for the community to voice opinions. All comments are subject to moderator approval before being made visible on the website but are not edited. The use of profanity, obscene and vulgar language, hate speech, and racial slurs is strictly prohibited. Advertisements, promotions, and spam will also be rejected. Please read our terms of service for full guides